Lok Sabha Elections: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the government of the grand old party would raise the reservation above 50 percent, party leader Jairam Ramesh called the reservation a path to justice. Speaking on Rahul Gandhi's claim, Ramesh said that what the former Congress chief said is the guarantee that the party has given in its manifesto that will increase the 50% cap.
Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said that backward classes of society should get reservation as per their population. He said that the grand old party will increase the reservation cap, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are running away from this question and are speaking on religion-based reservations.
"The backward classes of our society should get reservation as per their population. Our Constitution's basic principle is social justice. The path to social justice is reservation...What Rahul Gandhi has said is the guarantee that we have given in our 'nyay patra' - that we will increase the 50% cap. Every state has this demand...PM and HM are running away from this question and are speaking on religion-based reservation. This is wrong, a lie," Jairam Ramesh said.
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi promised waiving of the loans of farmers and raising MNREGA payment from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day if the Congress government comes to power at the Centre. The Wayanad MP, while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone, said, "After coming to power, Congress govt will raise MNREGA payment from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day." "Congress government will waive loans of farmers soon after coming to power at Centre," he added at an election rally.
Gandhi had said the Congress government will work for giving reservation to tribals, Dalits and OBCs as per their need. "It is due to it (Constitution) that the tribals, Dalits and OBCs are getting benefits. The tribals have the right over water, land and jungles due to the Constitution," Gandhi said.